While staying at Government House, and enjoying the kind hospitality of Sir Charles and Lady Mitchell, my ear was often gladdened by the sound of the cavalry bugle and the roll of the drum, those striking symbols of British sway, as the troops passed my window in their early morning rides.  I am persuaded that these outward evidences of latent power, impress not only the minds of Englishmen, but of natives also, in this distant land.  There cannot be a doubt of the influence exercised by the British race over the aboriginal inhabitants of South Africa.  That this should be used, at all times, with justice, tact, and discretion, “goes without saying;” but that it is a factor of great effect on their minds is unquestionable.

[Illustration:  A STREET IN MARITZBURG.]

[Illustration:  Decorative]

DURBAN.

The railway journey from Maritzburg to Durban, a distance of fifty-seven miles by road, is long and rather tedious travelling on account of the slow pace.  The line (a single one), which seems to have been very skilfully engineered, is necessarily constructed with such steep gradients that this seems inevitable.  The long stoppages at stations might be certainly improved.  Durban is the prettiest as well as one of the cleanest, and most well-ordered towns I have seen in South Africa.  I was at once struck with the Town Hall, a magnificent building, recently erected, and generally stated to be, although not the largest, in some respects the handsomest in South Africa.  The total cost of construction was about L50,000, and it is worthy of note that in their selection of an architect, the Corporation of Durban did not have to go beyond their own town, an efficient man being found in Mr. P.M.  Dudgeon.  The building is of the Corinthian order of architecture, having a frontage of 206 feet, with a depth of 270 feet.  It is prettily situated, and is a striking proof of what colonists can do when an occasion demanding skill, and perseverance, arises.  There are several other fine buildings in the town.  A stranger coming from the Transvaal is immediately impressed with the contrast between the careless indifference, which marks the absence of proper municipal arrangements in the towns of the South African Republic, and the proofs of their presence in an energetic British community.  The Natalians certainly deserve the greatest credit for the way in which they carry on the business and manage the public affairs of their prosperous, and thriving town, which has a population of 17,000, of whom about 9,000 are Europeans.  Recent commercial returns show that the trade of Natal, of which Durban, as the seaport town, is the centre, is rapidly increasing.

[Illustration:  TOWN HALL, DURBAN.]